Tape-applying machine



Nov.r l25, 193). l.. K. BUTLER TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 5,' 1928 MWD) r Mami' ,Lflfuz le Nov. 25,1930. l.. K. BUTLER 1,732,562

' TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Api-i1 5,1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patentedk Nov. 25, 1930 Unirse smrrfzs PATENT OFFICE f LELAND K. BUTLER, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, BY`MESNE'AS- Y SIGNMENTS, TO EXCEL TAPING MACHINE CO., OF

LYNN, MAssAorrUsnr'rs; A conf TAPE-APPLYING MACHINE Application filed April 5, 1928. l Serial No. 267,714.

. This invention relates to a machine for applying reinforcing tape tov sheets of'material, such as the uppers of shoes, and more particularly to marginal portions thereof, and in some aspects comprises an improvement upon the apparatus disclosed in the copending" application of Jerome P. Byron No. 216,702, iiled August 31,1927.

The above identified pending application discloses in general mechanism particularly adapted to apply tape coated with perma nently plastic adhesive and to permit such operati on continuously to be eected by the movement of the tape and the sheet between a pair of rolls which are yieldably urged toward each other.`` AThe present invention affords more simple and effective guide means for the sheet and for the tape and affordsan arrangement of parts that permits the more facile and convenient manipulation of the sheet to permit the ready application of the adhesive tape to marginal portions of the sheet whether straight or curved.` VA further aspect of the invention relates to the arrangement of a tape roll-and an intermediate idler roll in order to permit a suitable pull to be cast upon the tape toovercome the adhesion between adjoining turnsofthe` same in the tape roll. Another aspect of the invention relates to the arrangement of parts which permits the coated tape to be protected against accidental engagement with foreign objects and particularly against engagement with a part of the sheet aside from that to which it is to be properlyapplied. Furthermore, these means are arranged to permit the convenient changing or replacement of tape rolls and the ready feeding or Atraining of a new tape roll about the various partsof the machine. Another feature of the invention prevents the adhesive tape from sticking to.V

the'tape-applying rolls if there is no sheet materialmterposed therebetween. j

fr machine which exemplifies the invention is illustratedin 'the accompanying drawings,

in which: i

Fig. 1 is a front elevational viewof the i improved tape-applying machine;

Fig; 2 isa side view of a portion of the same;

F ig. 3 is a top view of a part of the assembly shown in Fig. 2; j 1

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail elevational views of the tape-applying rolls showing various `se-` lected positionsof the same; and j F ig. 6 is a sectional view through `one ofV the rolls, showing related parts. j

A machine` of the type exemplified in the accompanying drawings preferably comprises a frame, designated in general by the numeral 1, which may be mounted upon any suitable table or support. One end of frame 1 preferably supports a train of gears, desig-` nated in general by the numeral 2, This gear train is driven from any suitable source of power by a belt 3 passing over aV pulley 4 which is provided with a weighted rim that not only comprises ajfiywheel but also forms a hand wheel to permit manual movement ofthe parts in order to permit accurate adjustment of the machine for the insertion of new work or any other desired purpose. Mounted above framel is a transverse shaft` 7 which is rotated bythe gear 8 which is loosely meshed with an adjoining gear9 of the train 2. The shaft `7 is carried upon an upper roll support 12 which is pivotally connected to the frame 1 adjoiningzthe gear train,as designated by numeral 13. VThe overhanging end of Ashaft T` opposite the gear 8 carriesI a unit 10 for` pressing the sheet material `against the adhesive tape.` The Weight of the support 12 as well .as any suit- Y able spring, not shown, may serve to press' theroll downwardly towarda lower tapeapplyingroll 20which is rotatably mounted upon the frame 1.V Roll 2() is mounted upon a shaft 11 which extends thro-ugh frame 1 and carries the .gear 9 at its opposite end. A. depending boXlil e portion 15 of sup-A port 12 may interfit with the upstanding projection 16 upon framel to serve as a guide for the support. It is evident that the loose meshing engagement of the gear 8 with the adjoining driving gearlO co-operates with the pivotal mounting of support 12to permit the -rolls 10 and 20 to "separate to allowlthe interposition of sheet material and, tape Y therebetween. j p

. A bracket 30 extends outwardly from frame 1 and supports a suitable axle 31 upon which a tape roll 32 may be located. Preferably this roll may be formed of tape that is coated with a permanently plastic adhesive which may be pressed into engagement with a sheet at ordinary temperature. The roll 32 preferably is surrounded by a suitable guard 35 comprising opposite plates 33 and 34. One of these plates, i. e. plate 34, is fixed to bracket 30 and preferably carries a roller 36 about which the tape run may be turned, this roll preferably beinglocated in substantially the same horizontal plane as the axis of roll 20, Fig. 2, and the tape run extending therefrom about the lower portion of the latter roll so that it is wrapped about a considerable peripheral portion of the same to ensure a firm frictional engagement between this roll and the tape. Plate 34 carries a curved flange 3'? surrounding a peripheral portion of the tape roll, Figs. 1 and 3. The removable plate 33 preferably is provided with a set screw 63 engaging a-Xle 31 to permit the ready removal of plate 33 and the replacement of the tape roll when necessary.

Adjoining the juxtaposed portions of rolls 10 and 20 is a suitable guide member 41 which is adj ustably mounted upon the fra-me l. This member comprises a finger 42, the curved end of which is adapted to lie adjoining the inner face of roll 10. Finger 42 is supported by an upstanding element 43, the lower portion of which is bent outwardly and provided with a slot 44 to receive the fastening element 45, whereby the finger 42 may be adjusted inwardly in relation to the rolls. As shown in 2 the intermediate portion 43 of member 41 is angularly disposed in relation to the lower plate portion so that finger 42 is located somewhat in advance of the point where the rolls 10 and 2O tend to con` tact or substantially Contact.

Adjoining guide member 41 is a tape guide 5() which comprises a segmental portion 51 having a curved channel or slot therethrough. This guide also may be provided with an intermediate supporting portion and a lower plate portion 5 which is slotted, as designated by numeral 5G, to receive fastening means 55. Preferably the slotted portion 51 has a. suitable width properly to receive and guide the particular type of tape which is to be used in the machine, it being obvious that a plurality of the guide members 50 may be supplied` to accommodate tapes of various widths. The tape guide is laterally adjustable due to the arrangement of slot 56 so that it properly may be positioned in relation to rolls 1() and A guard or scraper 60 is secured to the baclr of the support 13 and curves inwardly and downwardly toward the face of roll 10 so that its edge is disposed close to the back of that roll.

A suitable-guard is arranged about the front of roll 20 to prevent accidental engagement of foreign objects with the adhesive face of the tape. This guard has its lower end pivotally connected to the frame 1, as designated by numeral 66, and is provided with a curved flange extending upwardly from pin 66 and closely paralleling the front face of the roll 20. The guard also has a suitable side portion which carries a nub 67 that is adapted to engage the curved end portion of a leaf spring (36 that is secured to the face of the frame 1, it being evident that a downward and outward pull upon the guard will cause the nub to engage the curved spring end with cam-like action to release the guard and to permit the saine to swing down away from roll 20, thus facilitating the feeding of a new run of tape about the lower roll and into the slotted portion 51 of the tape guide.

The upper roll 10 is preferably provided with an intermediate portion 10n having central bosses 70 and 71 fitted upon an extension of the shaft 7. This shaft has a shoulder adjoining the end of support 12 and is provided with suitable key-like extensions or projections i6 that seat in recesses on the boss 70. At either side of the intermediate roll section 105t are other roll portions 10b and 10C, the former being engaged by the detachable fastening element 72 which is threaded into the end of the shaft 7. latter is preferably provided with a suitable annular recess which receives a washer Tf), that is adapted to engage the end of snjjniort 12. Roll portions 10b and 10c prefcrablyv are mounted upon bosses 70 and 71 of section 1()a and are held between member 72 and washer 7 9 in such a manner that they are retained in frictional engagement with faces of the intermedite roll section 10. although they are adapted to be moved independently of the same in response to snitably applied exterior forces. A roll of this character is particularly suitable to permit the application of tape along a curved path, the different portions of the roll being adapted to rotate at slightly different speeds in response to the speeds of different parts the material which they engage.

Fig. 4 shows a roll 90 having a similar arrangement of roll sections to that dcscribed above and with the exception that the outer roll sections have narrow peripheral portions 30, but have their intermediate portions of the same dimensions as the roll sections shown in Fig. 5 and described aoove.

.hus the roll 90 may be used interchangeably with the roll 10 whenever a narrower tape applying roll is desired. .Vhile l have shown the central roll section as the dri ri ing element and have shown a single driven roll element at either side thereof, it is evident that this arrangement may be va ried, and that there may be a single driven The Y element or more. than two driven elements,

'as circumstances maywarrant, it being furtherevident that the driven element maybe located centrally of theroll or toward one side thereof, as desired. Y

The diameters of the rolls l andQO have substantially the same ratiov asthe pitch circles of gears 8 and 9, but I have found that in practice it is advantageous to vary these diameterssomewhat .to take care of the particular characteristics'ot the sheet material or the tape thatis being` used.

j'llhus,v for example, when the tape is quite yieldable and elastic, I havel foundV it advantageous to so dimension rolls 1Q and `2O that the lower roll has a somewhatgreater peripheral speed than the upper roll. This arrangement compensates for theftendency of the tape to draw' or reduce in length after passing between therolls. Thus the sheetand adhesive tape remain united without any tendency to pucker or pull away trom each other.

In the operation of a.'v machine of this character, the plate 33 being remo-ved, a suitable tape roll 32 is applied to the axle 31, the tape run being Wrapped around the roller 36, if desired, and in any case being wrapped around the lower portion of roll 2O and fed through slot 5l in tape guide 50, the guard being readily swung down to permit this action. Thereupon the plate 33 may be replaced to protect the adhesively coated face of the tapeV against engagement with foreign objectsanfd the guard 65 may be swung up to its operative position. V'llhe sheet material to which the tape is tobe ap plied is located with its edge in engagement with the endl of finger 42, and the driving iactor is started so that rolls l0 and 2O are rotated to draw the tape and sheet between the rolls and toy press the tape lirmlyinto engagement with the sheet. The arrangement ofthe linger 42 in advance of the juxtaposed portions of rolls l0 and 2() permits the convenient manipulation or lateral swinging of the sheet in relation to the typeapplying roll by the operator. Thus the tape may follow any suitable path, for example, being readily applicable to the curved edge portion of the front of a shoe upper. The scraper 60 prevents the adhesive face of the tape from clinging to the roll l0 if therolls continue to rotate after the sheet material has passed. between the same.

It is further evident that the provision et a roll having a .plurality of sections, which may move at different speeds, permits'the more convenient movement of the material along curved paths and permits the ready application of tape to the same.

I claimz l. A machine for applying adhesively coated tape to sheet material comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, a taperoll arranged to supply a tape run to be wrapped about one of said rolls and aguard adjoining said roll to protect the coated face of the tape, said guard being movably mounted to permit the Y ready Wrapping of a new tape run about the of said rolls and a guard adjoining said roll applying adhesively` to protect the coated face of the tape, said guard being pivotally mounted, and a spring having a cam-like engagement with a portion of the guard to retain it in its normal position.

3. A machine for applying adhesively `coated tape tosheet material comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, a tape roll arranged j to supply a tape run to be wrapped about one of said rolls, and a housing about the tape roll and an adjoining part ofthe tape run,

said housing `comprising a removable plate j to permit the replacement of the tape roll.

1l. A machine tor` applying adhesively coated tape to sheet material comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, a tape roll arranged to supply a tape run to be wrapped about one of said rolls, Va housing about the tape roll and an'adjoining part of the tape run, and a ined axle extending through the housing and supporting said tape roll, Vsaid housing 1includiing` a removable plate, said plate being detachably secured to the axle to permit replacementot the tape roll. l j

`5. A.; 'machine for applying adhesively coated Vtape tosheet material comprising` a pair of'juxtaposed rolls, a tape roll arranged to supply a tape run to be wrapped about one of said rolls and a scraper` having an edge juxtaposedto the back face of one of the rolls to prevent the adhesive Vtape from continuing j in engagement with said roll. i (i. A machine for applying adhesively coated tape to sheet material `comprising a pair o'fjuxtaposedrolls, a tape roll arranged to supply a tape run to be wrappedabout one of said rolls, one of saidjuxtaposed rolls having bosses oi;- diiierent dimensions at each side wherebyit may belocated in two selected positions determined by the'positionof these bosses in engagement with surrounding obs jects. j i

7. In a machine of theclass described, a pair of juxtaposed rolls., tape roll, an intermediate roll, said tape roll having its Center disposed'below the lower of the juxtaposed rolls, said intermediate roll being smaller in diameterrthan the lower of the juxtaposed -rolls and `having its center substantially in the same horizontal plane, rwherebytape coming trom the tape roll and led about the intermediate roll may be wrapped about the maj or portion of the periphery of the lower roll be fore passing between the juxtaposedrolls.

lill" 8. A machine for applying adhesively coated tape to sheet material comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls adapted to receive the tape and sheet therebetween, one of said rolls comprising a plurality of sections providing a plurality of peripheral surfaces, one of said sections being positively driven, and another section being free from positive drive.

9. A machine for applying adhesively coated tape to sheet material comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls adapted to receive the tape and sheet therebetween, one of said rolls comprising a plurality of sections providing a plurality of peripheral surfaces, one of said sections being positively driven, the other sections being driven by friction so that there may be relative movement between them aud the positively driven section.

l0. A machine for applying adhesively coated tape to sheet material comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls adapted to receive the tape and sheet therebetween, one of said rolls comprising a plurality of sections providing a plurality of perihperal surfaces, one of said sections being positively driven, said section having outstanding bosses, the adjoining sections being mounted on the bosses and having surfaces held in frictional engagementwith the sides of the positively driven section.

11. AV machine of the class described, comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means urging the rolls toward each other, means for driving the rolls, a support for a roll of adhesively coated tape arranged to supply a run of the tape to a peripheral portion of one of the rolls, an idler member adapted to engage the tape run, said idler member being disposed in the vicinity of a plane extending through the axis of the roll which receives the tape, said plane being substantially at right angles to a plane passing through the axes of the juxtaposed rolls, whereby the tape is supplied to a considerable peripheral portion of the roll before it passes between the juxtaposed rolls.

12. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means for driving the rolls, a support for a roll of adhesively coated tape, said support being positioned so that the axis of the tape roll is disposed below a plane which is tangential to the nearer of the juxtaposed rolls and is normal to a plane extending through the axes of said juxtaposed rolls, an idler mem ber arranged in a plane extending through the axis of one of said rolls and parallel to said first-named plane, said support for the tape roll and idler member being arranged so that the tape may be withdrawn substantially tangentially from the tape roll and may pass about a considerable peripheral portion of one of the juxtaposed rolls before passing to the bite of said rolls.

13. machine of the class described comprising a pair of juxtaposed rolls, means for driving the rolls, a tape supplying means arranged to supply tape to a peripheral portion of one of said rolls which is disposed substantially 270O in a direction counter to that of the movement of that roll from the bite of the juxtaposed rolls, whereby the tape run may be in engagement with a considerable peripheral portion of said roll.

14E. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of substantially parallel shafts, a roll mounted on each shaft, said rolls being juxtaposed, a tape guide adjoining one of the rolls and being arranged to supply tape to the bite of the rolls, common drive means for said shafts effecting the rotation of the shafts at speeds which have a predetermined ratio to each other, the ratio of the diameter of the roll remote from the guide to the diameter of the roll adjoining the guide being somewhat less than the ratio of the speeds of the corresponding shafts, whereby the roll remote from the guide has a peripheral speed slightly lower than that of the other roll.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 23d day of March, 1928.

LELAND K. BUTLER. 

